Imaging Workstations Information

Imaging workstations are vision systems with integrated camera, image capture, processing, storage, analysis and control systems for automated inspection, metrology or image analysis end-uses in production, manufacturing, inspection, laboratory or clean room settings. Typically, imaging workstations are stationary with high magnification optics as well as high-resolution imagers and precision sample stages or positioners. The high resolution is required for the 2D or 3D measurement of semiconductor wafers, electronics or other high precision components or in capturing microstructural or biological features.

Imaging workstations are provided in both modular and turnkey forms. Turnkey imaging workstation systems are complete, off-the-shelve (COTS) vision systems with all of the required components to provide an application ready product. These units do not require additional hardware such as a computer or cameras.

With modular systems, the engineer or system integrator selects or configures the components to produce a product tailored to meet the application's requirements. To replicate a complete, highly flexible vision systems, it may be necessary to integrate some or all of the following compatible modules: cameras/imagers, lenses, computers/processors, frame grabber boards, image processing boards, image analysis software and illuminators.

Imaging workstations are used in a wide range of applications including all of the following: alignment and guidance in web applications, to verify assembly quality, to read bar codes and matrices, for biological or medical imaging and sample testing, color marking and color marking recognition, conveyor line identification and product counting, edge detection, semiconductor and electronics inspection, flaw detection, gaging and dimensioning, ID detection and verification, seal integrity examination, and many other industrial applications.